Upright vacuums are simple and straightforward to operate, just push a button and move it over the carpet. The top upright vacuums will also clean bare floors efficiently, filter your air to keep particles from flying about, and include attachments for cleaning upholstery, stairs, and reaching into nooks and crannies. ConsumerSearch evaluated thousands of vacuum cleaner reviews to find the best upright vacuums, both bagging and bagless, to fit any need or budget.

Best bagless vacuum cleaner

Expert and user reviewers agree: The Dyson DC41 Animal is a standout bagless upright vacuum. It boasts exceptional performance on both carpets and bare floors, and strong suction for great pet-hair pickup. Its long 35-foot cord and a hose that extends for a maximum reach of 54 feet make this vacuum cleaner a versatile performer.
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Best budget bagless vacuum cleaner

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV350 is a lightweight upright vacuum that doubles as a canister vacuum with a simple, lift-away feature. It gets raves for its excellent performance on both carpets and hard floor surfaces, and it excels at picking up pet hair. Reviewers are astounded by how powerful this versatile vacuum is for its low price.
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Best bagging vacuum cleaner

For exceptional maneuverability and top performance, look no further than the Miele S 7260 Cat & Dog. With Miele's proprietary swiveling technology and a slim, 12-inch cleaning head, this upright vacuum navigates seamlessly around furniture, reviewers say. It also provides excellent suction for deep cleaning. Special dust bags add an extra layer of filtration to the system.
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Best budget bagging vacuum cleaner

The Hoover Platinum Bagged UH30010COM is a bagging upright vacuum cleaner with HEPA filtration that offers performance comparable to high-end models at a fraction of the price. This model also comes with an included canister vacuum for added versatility. Reviewers say both units are lightweight and easy to use.
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Upright vacuum cleaners run that gamut from basic to fancy

Upright vacuum cleaners are all quite similar in overall design, but the more you are willing to pay, the more features and versatility you'll get.

The most important feature to consider is a bagging versus a bagless design. Bagless upright vacuums mean you don't have to purchase replacement bags. The dirt and debris are deposited in a removable canister that you take out, dump, clean (if necessary) and replace. Bagging vacuum cleaners have a removable bag that you discard and replace when full.

Bagless vacuum cleaners are convenient and easy to use. The most obvious advantage of a bagless vacuum cleaner is that you don't have to buy replacement bags. However, bagless vacuums have a two-step process -- larger particles are deposited into the removable container, smaller particles go into the filter -- and the filters may need to be replaced. Some bagless vacuums are messy and awkward to dump. And, eventually, dirt and pet hair will accumulate in the nooks and crannies of the container so it will have to be cleaned -- a task most owners find unappealing. However, not having to dispose of the bag is more environmentally friendly as it eliminates an added layer of trash. One other advantage to bagless: If you accidentally vacuum up a small item, you don't have to tear open the bag and dig through the contents to find it; the canisters are mostly see-through.

Bagging upright vacuum cleaners get slightly better reviews for overall performance. Most bagging vacuums have bags that are constructed of filter media, adding an extra filtration step to the overall system. This means some bagging vacuums can boast of three-stage filtration. Many owners also prefer this no-muss, no-fuss approach to getting rid of their vacuuming debris, although some bags are trickier to put in place than others. Some bagging upright vacuum cleaners use self-sealing bags, which prevent any particles from escaping back into the air during the bag-disposal process.

The major downside to bagging upright vacuum cleaners is that bags must be purchased throughout the life of the vacuum cleaner. Bags typically range in price from $2 to $7 per bag, although generic bags are an option in some cases and bags can often be ordered in bulk for a lower per-bag cost.

Both bagging and bagless vacuum cleaners vary widely in price. Some inexpensive models run $50 or less, while the top-end models can price out at more than $1,000. As with almost anything, the more features and versatility, the more expensive the vacuum will be. We found very well-reviewed vacuum cleaners from a low of $100 to a high of $550. HEPA filtration, which removes 99.99 percent of particles down to 0.5 micron in size from the air, is a much-touted feature but doesn't seem to have much effect on price; upright vacuums with HEPA filtration land near both ends of the price spectrum.

ConsumerSearch editors evaluated dozens of upright vacuum cleaners, narrowing down the top picks by examining professional and expert reviews. We consider performance on different flooring surfaces, pet-hair removal, features and attachments, ease of use and lifestyle features to help you find the perfect upright vacuum cleaner for your cleaning needs.

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